‘QR Boss’ leads Metro Quick Response team

On a daily basis, Sergeant Sherine Chambers commands the attention of motorists and pedestrians as she carries out her lawful duty to maintain public safety and apprehend criminals.

Whether it's how neatly she dons her blue denim uniform, the sight of her Glock service pistol, or how she carries her gear including protective helmet, body camera and gloves, she gains stares.

"People love to see me on the bike, they respect me on the road. When they see me they say, 'Female a ride bike!'. I get the compliment every day," Chambers said. The 43-year-old is the senior female supervisor on the Metro Quick Response (QR) team, which is tasked with responding to major crimes in the town. But for her, the passion to maintain discipline keeps her going beyond the call of duty.

Chambers is the youngest of eight children born to a tailor and housewife from Trout Hall, Clarendon. She described her early years as humble beginnings, as her father worked tirelessly to ensure the children didn't miss a day at school.

"From I was much younger, I always wanted to be a police. I don't know but they dressed properly in their uniform, the neat look and I think I've acquired that. There was a policeman in my community, Inspector Thorpe, and I looked up to him and my parents had nothing to say, they were up to it. It was difficult to get into but I know I was supposed to be here," she related.

In 2000, Chambers took the trek from her home to May Pen for an interview. But when her interviewer told her to sit outside and wait for a response, Chambers had no issue waiting for the entire day.

"She didn't remember that I was there. Police pass me go and pass me come and they said, 'You really stand up here whole day and a wait' and hungry a bite me you know, but it was worth the wait," the mother of two joked.

The following year, Chambers spent nine months immersed in rigorous training and graduated as one of the 46 females in the batch of 147 candidates.

"Training was difficult but I knew I wanted it," she told THE WEEKEND STAR. By 2002, the Edwin Allen High alumna was stationed at the then Motorised Patrol branch and spent the next eight years doing beat and foot duty. Thereafter, she discovered her love for the bicycle and did training as a pedal cyclist officer.

"I used to ride bicycle in my shorts. I get whole heap of stares, I think someone even wrote to The Gleaner that they wanted to meet me. From there, I became a motorcyclist in 2012 and I was promoted to corporal that same day I graduated. That feeling was great," she beamed.

Since the merger of the Traffic Branch and the Motorised Patrol that resulted in the formation of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch, the elite Quick Response team was formed in 2021 and naturally, Chambers had secured her spot. It is no coincidence that she acquired the moniker 'QR Boss'.

During the interview with the news team, she was warmly greeted by officers as they returned to their base in Kingston, some smiling as they saw their mentor being featured. This disciplinarian prides herself in punctuality, as well as being a good listener and communicator.

"I think I was made for this and going out there, just to help one person per day, it becomes natural. I don't want us to get it twisted, because [some may think] helping people -- meaning that I give them a ticket or making an arrest -- is not helping. No matter how small it may be, I am helping them in some way, and I don't only beat, I beat and teach. I love my work," Chambers said, wearing a broad grin.